There is a lot to look forward to this week with spring finally creeping in ready to cure the thick cabin fever.

It's First Friday at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery with free admission and plenty to see. Also be sure to check out Hip-Hop Karaoke at DBGB for the freshest (or not so) renditions of old school classics.

Here are 14 Editor's Picks of cool and interesting events going on in the area for the week of March 31 - April 6, 2014. Be sure to check out our events calendar for much more of what's going on in WNY, and check back every Friday for a "Best Bets" for the weekend.

ROCK OF AGES
Shea’s Performing Arts Center
Tue Apr 1
The worldwide party musical ROCK OF AGES features a mix of 28 rockin' 80's tunes including DON'T STOP BELIEVIN', WE BUILT THIS CITY, THE FINAL COUNTDOWN, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE, HERE I GO AGAIN, CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELING and I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS. In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA's most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the 80's. It's five time 2009 Tony® nominee ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind blowing, face-melting hits of JOURNEY, NIGHT RANGER, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, PAT BENATAR, TWISTED SISTER, POISON, ASIA, WHITESNAKE and many more. Don't miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on! Official site and tickets here.

Experience Hendrix
UB Center for the Arts
Tue Apr 1
The eighth edition of the celebrated Experience Hendrix Tour comes to the Center for the Arts! Presented by BandFuse: Rock Legends, the tour brings together a diverse group of musical greats paying homage to the abiding genius of Jimi Hendrix.
Artists currently scheduled to perform include: Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dweezil Zappa, Eric Gales, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Johnson, Bootsy Collins, Mato Nanji, Brad Whitford and Ana Popovic. The rhythm section includes bassist Billy Cox, the only player, apart from Jimi Hendrix himself, who was part of both the Band of Gypsys and the Jimi Hendrix Experience and drummer Chris Layton of Double Trouble. Official site.

The Devil Wears Prada
Town Ballroom
Tue Apr 1
The Devil Wears Prada is the musical embodiment of a generational shift. Built on a diverse array of heavy, dark, melodic and genre-defying music; hardened and sharpened by putting in road work together since the days when they had to skip class to tour: The Devil Wears Prada is at the forefront of a movement that bridges the gap between Rockstar Mayhem and the Vans Warped Tour. Official site.

ART BABY STROLLER TOUR
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Wed Apr 2
Curator of Education and Community Engagement Jessica DiPalma offers adults the opportunity to learn about works of art while young children will be able to simultaneously engage with works of art, absorbing the colors, shapes, and tonal contrasts of works on view in the museum. The tour will also provide ideas on how to engage children with works of art.
Tour Details:
One adult (parent, guardian, or caregiver) must accompany each child.
Strollers and front baby carriers only are allowed.
Walking children must remain in strollers during the gallery tour.
Due to space limitations, this tour is for the participant child and one adult. Children over 24 months are not allowed to accompany the tour. More details here.

Authority Zero
Waiting Room
Wed Apr 2
AUTHORITY ZERO has managed toweather the music industry storm and endure living on the road awayfrom friends and loved ones for almost 2 decades. With four studioalbums under their belt, two live acoustic albums, and two EP's, theyappear to be just getting started. Over the past few years the band has broke ground internationally, beginning with shows in Japan, followed by performances at Belgium's legendary Groezrock, Spain's Resurrection Fest and UK's Rebellion Fest amongstcountless other European festivals. Official site.

With tours through Russia and Australia in the works, AUTHORITY ZERO continues to seek new destinations to spread their live show and music.Initially their goal was simple; create a sound that paid tribute to their punk rock forefathers, but not confined by the musical barriers that typically bound the genre together. Now, 18 years later, they have just wrapped on their fifth full-length studio album. Named after the Malcolm Gladwell book, The Tipping Point was recorded with producer Cameron Webb (Pennywise, Social Distortion, Motorhead etc.) at Maple Studios in California.

Time And Distance
The Forvm
Thur Apr 3
Time and Distance are a Rock band from Charleston, West Virginia, started around 2002. To date, we've released two full length albums, two ep's, toured the country countless times with bands big and small, signed to a couple different record labels, put like 200,000 miles on our van, and made a lot of friends. we also really like mexican food. "We write original pop-punk music, stay out late, and would love to perform in front of you wherever you may be. Everyone waits for something. We've all been waiting for something like this. If you had a chance to live on the edge or live with regret, which would you choose? That is Skylight Stereo, we hope you enjoy." Official site.

Music in Buffalo's Historic Places @ Kleinhans Music Hall
Kleinhans Music Hall
Thur Apr 3
Music in Buffalo’s Historic Places presents a selection of Luciano Berio’s Sequenzas for solo instruments on the main stage at Kleinhans Music Hall. Audience members will be invited to sit on stage for an intimate concert experience inside one of Buffalo’s architectural gems. The soaring interior of the Eliel and Eero Saarinen designed hall will be enlivened by the dramatic and extremely virtuosic music of Berio’s Sequenzas for violin, cello, clarinet, piano and trumpet. The concert features UB Music Department faculty members: Yuki Numata Resnick (violin), Jonathan Golove (cello), Jean Kopperud, (clarinet), Eric Huebner (piano), and Jon Nelson (trumpet), and is co-produced in association with the Robert and Carol Morris Center for 21st Century Music and UB’s School of Architecture and Planning. Official site.

Amy Helm
Buffalo Iron Works
Thur Apr 3
Amy Helms deep musical roots were enriched by a lifetime of exposure to the finest expressions of American musical tradition. Combined with her stunning vocal and other creative gifts, those roots have grown up to reveal a spellbinding artist who moves easily through a broad range of musical styles. Helm continues to perform with the Ollabelle, the Midnight Ramble Band and the Dirt Farmer Band. She is poised to release her first solo album in 2014.

Steve Rannazzisi from FX's “The League”
Helium Comedy Club
Thur Apr 3 – Sat Apr 5
Stephen Rannazzisi plays "Kevin," the League Commissioner on FX's hit show The League. Actor/comedian Rannazzisi got his first taste of television success in 2003 as one of the smart-ass cast members on MTV's Punk'd. Official site.

Romeo and Juliet
Shea’s Performing Arts Center
Fri Apr 4
Presented by Neglia Ballet Artists in collaboration with The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Shea's Performing Arts Center. Official site.

First Friday at Albright -Knox Art Gallery
Albright-Know Art Gallery
Fri Apr 4
On the first Friday of every month—from 10 am to 10 pm—admission to the Gallery's 1962 Knox Building and select events are free for everyone. Art classes and certain tours are available to non-members for a fee. Special exhibitions in the 1905 Albright Building are available to non-members with Gallery admission. Everything is free for Gallery Members, except for service in AK Café. More details here.

The Maniacs (Grateful Dead Tribute)
The Forvm
Fri Apr 4
The Maniacs have been playing Grateful Dead music in Buffalo since 1992. "Unlike most cover bands we do not try to look and sound like the Dead. We take the songs and use them as a launch pad for our own jams and explorations."

Kill The Clock, The Impurity, Shattered Glass, Fat Vegans
Waiting Room
Fri Apr 4
See official site for details.

Hip Hop Karaoke Buffalo
DBGB
Sat Apr 5
Karaoke ain't karaoke if it ain't Hip Hop!
Hip Hop Karaoke Buffalo takes place the first Saturday of every month at Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar at 253 Allen St. in Buffalo, NY. All performers must pre-register to perform at www.hhkbuffalo.com.